10 things to do in the Granite Belt
It’s time to discover the Granite Belt, the region that sits three hours from Brisbane, whose natural assets give rise to one of the best food and wine scenes in the country.
With two hours between Brisbane and Toowoomba’s CBD, use your time wisely to put together your foodie-tour with this guide.
Sweet Talk Coffee, Toowoomba
Calling all foodies.
If you haven’t taken your tastebuds on tour to Queensland’s largest inland city yet – you’re missing out.
Not only do Toowoomba’s cafes serve local, seasonal produce, they also have some of the best coffee beans pouring through their machines – think Fonzie Abbott, Allpress, and Coffee Supreme.
With two hours between Brisbane and Toowoomba’s CBD, use your time wisely to put together your foodie-tour with this guide.
Sweet Talk Coffee
Sweet Talk Coffee, Toowoomba
For a meal paired with a cup of Coffee Supreme, put Sweet Talk Coffee on the top of your to-visit list.
Soak up the sun and surrounded yourself with bricks dating back 103 years from their historic Longs Quarter location.
With a menu packed with breakfast favourites like smashed avo, breaky burgers and pancakes as well as healthy lunches– Sweet Talk has your tastebuds covered through to 2pm.
Looking for a caffeine hit and lunch to go? Order one of their pre-cooked, nutrient rich meals - from roasted beets salad with tofu to Thai chicken mince rice with greens.
Open: Daily (7am to 2pm, weekdays; 7am to 1pm, weekends).
Ground Up Espresso Bar
Ground Up Espresso Bar, Toowoomba
Get to know one of the pioneers of the coffee culture in Toowoomba at Ground Up Espresso Bar.
When caffeine-seeking-hipsters were still travelling south to Melbourne to get their laneway coffee fix, Ground Up was building their presence along Toowoomba’s Searles Walk laneway.
Regularly voted by Beanhunter as the top place to grab a coffee in Toowoomba, this eclectic café with recycled furniture and graffiti-decorated walls shows no sign of slowing down since opening its doors in 2013.
With a menu changing daily, you won’t have to worry about lunch-fatigue when visiting this café on your next visit.
Open: Daily (6:30am to 3:30pm, weekdays; 7am to 3pm, weekends).
Burrow
Burrow, Toowoomba
Image: @thechronicle
If a café’s name is anything to go by, then expect to find a cosy, homely space to enjoy your breakfast or lunch at Burrow.
While you can find the usual crowd-pleasing favourites, BURROW spices up the menu with dishes such as pork and prawn sesame toast for breakfast or a picked pork Rueben, for lunch.
Did we mention they serve Allpress coffee and are pet-friendly too?
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, (7am to 2pm).
The Finch
The Finch, Toowoomba
Fonzie Abbott lovers – Toowoomba’s got you covered.
Served with a smile and a chocolate freckle on the side, The Finch has been keeping Fonzie lovers satisfied since 2015.
Grab a table for breakfast or lunch and enjoy local specialities, such as savoury Darling Downs mince or a Finch Burger with locally sourced beef patty.
They also sell ground Fonzie beans on-site, prefect for when your home supply is running low.
Open: Daily (6:30am to 2pm, weekdays; 7am to 2pm, weekends).
The Baker's Duck
Baker's Duck, Toowoomba
Pastry lovers – we’re looking at you.
If almond croissants, brownies or fruit Danishes are your love-language of choice, then head to The Baker’s Duck.
Order a flat white made with local Ground Up Espresso beans to wash down your pastry of choice or grab a selection of treats to go.
If you’re short on time and want to ensure you don’t miss out, order online and pick up your order from their Campbell Street location. Simples.
Open: Wednesday to Sunday (7am to 1pm).
Park House Cafe
Prefer to dine al fresco? Grab a table under the umbrellas of Park House Café along Margaret Street.
Located in Toowoomba’s heritage conservation precinct, across from Queen’s Park, Park House Café is perfectly situated to this famous green space if you want to work up an appetite before lunch.
As one of the few venues open until 5pm, put Park House Café on your list if you’re searching for something to cure three-thirty-itis.
Open: Daily (6am to 5pm).
Cafe Valetta
Cafe Valetta, Toowoomba
For meals served with a side of history, book a table at Café Valetta.
Taking its name from the historical home which houses the café, turn the pages of history as you dine in the chandelier-lit rooms or outdoor courtyard of this building dating back to 1911.
While Valetta has worn many faces over the years, from an antiques gallery to a guest house, it’s now a place to enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or high tea.
Serving the likes of Italian meatballs, arancini, and steak with beurre blanc sauce, put Café Valetta on your list if you feel like a touch of international flare with your feast.
Open: Breakfast and lunch, daily; Dinner, Friday and Saturday only.
Urban Grounds Cafe
Urban Grounds Cafe, Toowoomba
Image: @thefieldguidetoowoomba
We’ve got three words for you: All. Day. Breakfast.
With over 20 items on Urban Grounds Café’s All Day Dining menu – from fruit toast to the mega breakfast (read: steak, bacon, Kransky, and lamb cutlet served with mushrooms, spinach, tomato and eggs) – this café doesn’t discriminate on your breakfast dining preference.
Café meals like salads, burgers, and grilled steaks are also available if you prefer a more traditional lunch meal.
Open: Sunday to Tuesday, breakfast and lunch; Wednesday to Saturday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ortem
Ortem, Toowoomba
While some cafes pride themselves on good coffee, quality food, or making you feel like you’re part of the family – some café’s like Ortem do all three.
Dripping Bruno Rossi by Mocopan through the coffee machine, they take pride in each cup of coffee shared, with beans available to purchase for home too.
The menu ensures the region is captured with each plate of food – from sautéed mushrooms for breakfast to roast vegetable salad or a beef brisket burger for lunch.
Open: Daily (7am to 3:30pm, weekdays; 7am to 3pm, weekends).
You might also love
